Book-rest.



Patented Feb. I3, I900.

E. H. B. HUGHES.

B 6 0 K R E S T (Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheat I.

(No Model.)

5%KGE w:

W lt. EEBEE N6. 643,!88. Patented Feb. I3, I900.

' E. H. B. HUGHES.

BOOK REST.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Shaets-Sheat 2.

we NORRIS PETERS co, moraumcu WASNYNGTDN, n cy nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST H. B. HUGHES, on EGREMONT, E GLAND.

BOOK-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,188, dated February 13, 1900.

- Application filed October 4,1899; Serial No. 732,500. (No model-J To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST HORATIO BUR- GEss HUGHES, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Egremont, in the county of Chester, England, (whose postoffice address is Rowlands Hey, Seabank Road,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Rests, (for which application for patent has been made in Great Britain, No. 5,933, dated March 18, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a book or like rest for the use of invalids and others, the invention being designed to enable a person lying in bed or when sitting up to get his book into the most convenient position for reading.

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of my bookrest; Fig. 2, a back elevation; Fig. 3,afront elevation of the rest with the legs folded behind; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the rest tilted for use of a person lying down; Fig. 5, a back view of the rest, and Fig. 6 a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, A is a backing, of wood or other material, and B a shelf or ledge provided with an arm or stay 0, which is pivoted to the backing at D. The backing A is supported at back by a prop E, having a lead weight F at end, this prop being hinged at c and pivoted to the backing at c. Any other suitable support may, however, be used, so that the backing will stand on a bed or table or be supported from the floor. The backing A is also provided with auxiliary legs, pivoted thereto at g in such a manner that by adjusting these legs G the backing A, together with its shelf or ledge B,

can be tilted endwise to any angle required without altering its plane of inclination, and thus enabling me to place the book at the angle corresponding to that in which the head of the invalid lies on the pillow, as shown in Fig. 4. All the pivots are provided with wing-nuts, which can be operated by hand, so that any part may be instantly adjusted,'in order that the print of the book may be in line with the eyes, and thus the device may be used when the reader is sitting up or lying down. Adouble cordHis provided, one end running from the shelf or ledge B to the fixed point a and the other secured to a cleat c at top of the pivoted arm 0, that supports the ledge B. This cord is put between the pages of the book and so holds the book on the rest, preventing it falling off even if the ledge be turned vertically. Theledge is provided with music-frame clips I to keep the leaves of the book from turning.

The position of the rest when in use by a personsitting up is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the legs and prop in that case holding the backing horizontal and the ledge being also clamped horizontally thereon. When required for use by a person lying in bed or on a couch, one of the legs G is turned home against the stop G, the other leg and the prop being left projecting, as shown in Fig. 5. The backing is thus supported at an angle by means of one leg G, prop E, and one corner a of the backing itself, the pivot e permitting the prop to be turned into the position shown. The ledge, with the, book is also turned on its pivot D into the most convenient position for reading, as shown in Fig. 4, and the wing-nuts are screwed up so as to clamp all parts rigidly. When the rest is not in use, both legs G can be turned against the stops and the prop folded againstthe bottom. Lisa cord for limiting the movement of the prop.

In another arrangement the adjustable ledge or shelf B, with the arm or stay which is pivoted to the backing, may be dispensed with and the backing itself pivoted at J to a pair of legs K, supported by a prop L at the back, so that it can be tilted endwise. The prop is hinged at M. In this case the backing A is provided with a fixed ledge N for the book to rest on,with clips I to keep the leaves of the book from turning over accidentally. A

book-holding cord H having one end fixed to stay 0 and extending thence downward adjacent to ledge B thence upward for attachment to said cleat or fastening device, substantially as described.

2. In a book-rest the combination with the backing of a central hinged leg pi voted thereto and adapted to swing laterally in the plane of the backing and also back and forth at right angles thereto, and side legs also pivoted to said backing and stop devices for said side legs, substantially as described.

3. In a book-rest the combination with the backing of an arm or stay pivoted thereto, a supporting-ledge carried by said stay, a cen- ERNEST H. B. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

G. O. DYMoND, J. MoLAoHLAN. 

